Cristiano Ronaldo, who has now equalled Lionel Messi's record Ballon d'Or tally, has opened up about how helpless he felt seeing his rival going up 4-1 in the Golden Ball race between them.
Click through the gallery above to see Ronaldo and Messi's Ballon d'Or triumphs.
The Portuguese won his first Ballon d'Or in 2008, but then saw Messi lift the next four editions of the accolade, and he has now revealed he was angry about continuously missing out to the Argentine.
"I won a Ballon d'Or before Messi and then he overtook me, winning four in a row," Ronaldo said, as quoted by L'Equipe.
"I can't hide the fact I was sad and angry. I went to the awards ceremony and never won. I was even demotivated. I didn't want to go there any more. I wasn't interested in being there for the photo."
Ronaldo, though, has turned the Ballon d'Or race with Messi completely around since, having won four of the last five editions, in 2013, 2014, 2016 and this year.
"I didn't think I'd be able to catch Messi, because after I won my first, he won four, and I thought it would be difficult to equal him," he added.
"But football gives you the opportunity to keep working and winning, and I have won, and I'm experiencing a great period.
"I was patient, and I've won other Ballons d'Or. Today is the fifth, and that pushes me more to keep fighting, without thinking of my age."
Read: The Previous 13 Ballon d'Or Winners Before CR7 Messi
Messi, meanwhile, won the illustrious award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
Do you think Messi and Ronaldo will once again dominate the Ballon d'Or voting next year? Have your say in the comments section below.
